This trip was a disaster from the start. We never got as far as the German coast as no less than three ME110s surprised us during the North Sea crossing. I can only assume that all were equipped with Schrage Musik as the starboard wing took a heck of a pasting. There were multiple wing root hits and the life rafts were repeatedly hit, but the killer blow was to the fuel tank that started leaking badly.
We aborted and headed home. Even then another wild boar attacked and took out the intercom, mid upper gunner's heat and the port brakes.
Some 50 miles short of the Norfolk coast the engines began to splutter to a halt. Before the last of the fuel was drained I gave the bail out order. Sadly, only three of us survived to be picked up by the Navy. The bodies of Pilot Officer Swinton and Sergeants Richmond, Duggins and Hilliard have not yet been recovered.
F/O Sam Tulley (Pilot: No Complaints)